Dhaka, Oct 19 (V7N)— The Fire Service and Civil Defence has officially declared that the fire at the Cargo Village Complex of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport has been completely extinguished, nearly a day after it broke out. Authorities have also urged the implementation of adequate safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury, Director (Operation and Maintenance) of the Fire Service, made the announcement during a briefing on Sunday afternoon (October 19).

 “The fire at Cargo Village was fully brought under control at around 4:55 pm,” he said. “If there had been a direct or indirect fire detection and protection system, the blaze could have been extinguished much faster.”

He explained that the large amount of steel inside the building had caused it to retain heat, slowing down the cooling process.

Although the fire has been completely extinguished, four fire units will remain deployed at the site for precautionary monitoring.

 “The storage area was extremely narrow, and many flammable materials were stored inside, which caused delays in controlling the fire,” Tajul Islam said. “However, there were no complaints that the fire service was prevented from entering the area.”

The Fire Service Director also stated that the building has become structurally risky, with visible cracks in several parts. While there is a minor environmental risk due to the chemicals present, officials have confirmed that it is not at an alarming level.

Two firefighters sustained minor injuries while working to bring the fire under control.

Authorities have emphasized the need for strict fire safety systems and emergency preparedness in sensitive installations like airports to avert such devastating incidents in the future.

END/SMA/AJ